Jones v. Story (INMATE 2)

Filing 3

ORDER granting 2 Application to Proceed Without Prepayment of Fees and Affidavit filed by Volante Jones; directing plaintiff to forward to the Clerk of Court the sum of $2.67 as an initial partial filing fee as further set out in order. The Clerk is directed to send a copy of this order to the Account Clerk at Easterling Correctional Facility. Filing Fee due by 11/30/2005. Signed by Judge Charles S. Coody on 11/10/05. (sl, )

Jones v. Story (INMATE 2)

Doc. 3

Case 3:05-cv-01050-MHT-CSC

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Filed 11/10/2005

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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE MIDDLE DISTRICT OF ALABAMA EASTERN DIVISION ______________________________ VOLANTE JONES, #165 217 Plaintiff, v. CHARLES W. STORY, CIRCUIT * COURT CLERK FOR CHAMBERS COUNTY * * * CIVIL ACTION NO. 3:05-CV-1050-T (W O )

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D e fe n d a n t . * __________________________________ ORDER ON MOTION Plaintiff is an inmate incarcerated at the Easterling Correctional Facility located in Clio, Alabama. He filed an affidavit in support of a request for leave to proceed in forma pauperis, on October 27, 2005. In accordance with the provisions of 28 U.S.C. § 1915(b)(1), a prisoner who seeks to proceed in forma pauperis in a civil action or on appeal is required to pay the full amount of the requisite filing fee. However, where an inmate lacks the funds necessary to pay the entire filing fee upon initiation of the civil action or appeal and has money available to him, the court shall assess and collect an initial partial filing fee.1 An inmate account clerk filed a certificate which indicates the balance in Plaintiff's prison account at the time the instant complaint was filed and provides the court with information necessary to determine the average monthly balance in his prison account and the average

Attached to this Order is a notice explaining the requisite procedures for filing civil actions in fo rm a pauperis under 28 U.S.C. § 1915.

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monthly deposits to such account for the six month period preceding the filing of this complaint. A review of this information reveals that Plaintiff lacks the funds necessary to pay the $250.00 filing fee. The documents further establish that for the six month period immediately preceding the filing of the instant complaint the average monthly deposits to Plaintiff's prison account were $13.33. Such amount was greater than the average monthly balance in Plaintiff's account ($5.90). Thus, in accordance with the provisions of 28 U.S.C. § 1915(b)(1)(A), Plaintiff is required to pay an initial partial filing fee of $2.67 (20 percent of the average monthly deposits to Plaintiff's ac co u n t). Accordingly, it is ORDERED that: 1. On or before November 30, 2005 Plaintiff shall forward to the Clerk of this Court the sum of $2.67 as an initial partial filing fee. Plaintiff is hereby advised that it is his responsibility to submit the appropriate paperwork to the prison account clerk for transmission of his funds to this court for payment of the initial partial filing fee. If the funds are not now available in Plaintiff's prison account, he must make arrangements for payment of the requisite filing fee; 2. Plaintiff shall make monthly payments of 20 percent of each preceding month's income and/or funds credited to his account as payments towards the $250.00 filing fee in accordance with 28 U.S.C. § 1915(b)(2); 3. Those persons having custody of Plaintiff shall forward the above described payments from his inmate account to the Clerk of this Court each time the amount in the Plaintiff's account exceeds $10.00 until the $250.00 filing fee is paid in full; 4. The Clerk of Court SEND a copy of this Order to the account clerk at the Easterling 2

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Correctional Facility; 5. Except to the extent that payment is required under this order, Plaintiff's motion for leave to proceed in forma pauperis (Doc. No. 2), is GRANTED pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a)(1); and 6. Plaintiff is cautioned that his failure to pay the initial partial filing fee in compliance with this order may result in a recommendation the Magistrate Judge will recommend that his case be dismissed and such dismissal will not be reconsidered unless exceptional circumstances e x i s t .2 Done this 10th day of November, 2005.

/s/Charles S. Coody CHARLES S. COODY CHIEF UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

Plaintiff is advised that if he is unable to procure the initial partial filing fee within the time allow ed by this court he must inform the court of such inability and request an extension of time within w h ic h to file the fee. Plaintiff is further advised that if this case is dismissed for failure to pay the initial p a rtia l filing fee or for any other reason he remains obligated to pay the $250.00 filing fee. The filing fee w ill be collected from any funds which become available to Plaintiff and will be forwarded to this court by tho se persons having custody of the plaintiff pursuant to the directives contained in this order. Moreover, Plaintiff is hereby informed that notwithstanding payment of the initial partial filing fee this court will dismiss this case prior to service of process if the court determines that the action is frivolous, malicious, fa ils to state a claim upon which relief may be granted, or seeks monetary relief from a defendant who is imm une from such relief in accordance with the provisions of 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B)(i), (ii) and (iii). P la in tiff is also advised that if he files a notice of appeal he will likewise be required to pay the re q u is ite appellate filing fee which is currently $255.00. Thus, if at the time Plaintiff files a notice of appeal he h a s the necessary funds to pay the $255.00 filing fee, he must submit such amount to the court with the notice o f appeal. If the requisite funds are not available and Plaintiff seeks to proceed in forma pauperis on his a p p e al, he must complete an affidavit in support of such request and supply the court with a certified copy of h is prison account statement for the 6-month period preceding the filing of the appeal. However, Plaintiff is informed that regardless of this court's determination on his in forma pauperis motion the entire appellate filing fe e will be collected from those persons having custody of him from funds available in his prison account in a man n er similar to that outlined in this order.

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Filed 11/10/2005

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N O T IC E IN F O R M A T IO N TO PRISONERS SEEKING LEAVE TO PROCEED IN FORMA PAUPERIS PURSUANT TO 28 U.S.C. § 1915 IN CIVIL ACTIONS BEFORE ANY FEDERAL COURT I n accordance with 1996 amendments to the in forma pauperis (IFP) statute g o v e r n in g civil actions in federal court, as a prisoner you will be obligated to pay the fu ll filing fee of $250.00 for a civil action. If you later file an appeal, the filing fee for th e appeal is $255.00 and you will likewise be responsible for payment of such fee. T h u s , if at the time you file your action you have the funds available to pay the r e q u is ite filing fee, you must send such amount to the court with your complaint or n o tic e of appeal and, if appropriate, your IFP application. If you do not have enough money to pay the full filing fee when your action is filed, yo u can file the action without prepayment of the filing fee. However, the court will assess a n d , when funds exist, collect an initial partial filing fee. The initial partial filing fee will b e equal to 20 percent of the average monthly deposits to your prison or jail account for the s ix months immediately preceding the filing of the lawsuit, or 20 percent of the average m o n th ly balance in your prison or jail account for that same six month period, whichever is greater. The court will order that you make the initial partial filing fee out of your prison o r jail account or any other funds you have indicated are available to you. If you fail to s u b m it the initial partial filing fee, your case will be dismissed and the full amount of th e filing fee will be collected from those persons having custody of you. A f te r the initial partial filing fee has been paid, you will be responsible for paying the b a la n c e of the filing fee. To fulfill your obligation for payment of the full filing fee, each m o n th you will owe 20 percent of your preceding month's income toward the balance on th e filing fee. Pursuant to an order of the court, the agency that has custody of you will c o lle c t that money and send payments to the court any time the amount in the account e x c e e d s $10.00. You are advised that the balance of the filing fee will be collected even if the action is subsequently dismissed for any reason, summary judgment is granted a g a in s t you, or you fail to prevail at trial. In order to proceed with an action or appeal in forma pauperis you must complete the a f f id a v it in support of your request to proceed in forma pauperis and supply the court with a certified copy of your prisoner account statement for the 6-month period preceding the f ilin g of the complaint or notice of appeal and return it to the court with your cause of a c tio n . If you submit an incomplete form or do not submit a prison or jail account statement w ith the form, your request to proceed in forma pauperis will be denied.

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Regardless of whether some or all of the filing fee has been paid, the court is r e q u ir e d to screen your complaint and to dismiss the complaint if (1) your allegation o f poverty is untrue; (2) the action is frivolous or malicious; (3) your complaint does n o t state a claim on which relief can be granted; or (4) you sue a defendant for money d a m a g e s and that defendant is immune from liability for money damages. I f on three or more occasions you have filed actions or appeals while a prisoner w h ic h were dismissed as frivolous or malicious or for failure to state a claim on which r e lie f can be granted, then you will be prohibited from bringing any other actions in fo rm a pauperis unless you are in imminent danger of serious physical injury. In such c a se s , your request to proceed in forma pauperis will be denied and you will be r e q u ir e d to pay the appropriate filing fee before proceeding in your civil action.